- We started with a survey sample of 500,000 Gen Y workers. However, not all questions on the PayScale survey are required, so some of the data reported uses a subset of this overall sample. Subsets start at 75,000 Gen Y workers.
- This sample was collected July 2011 - July 2012.
- The age range we used to define Gen Y workers was 19 to 29 (birth years: 1982-1993).
Definitions
Total Cash Compensation (TCC): TCC combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable. For example, when overtime is typical for a given job, TCC also includes overtime pay. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or value of other non-cash benefits (e.g., healthcare).
Median Pay for Gen Y: Total cash compensation earned by workers born between 1982 and 1993. Half of the people reporting this data are paid more than the median figure and half are paid less.
% Gen Y Employees: The percentage of employees for a given employer that were born between 1982 and 1993.
% with High Job Satisfaction: The percentage of Gen Y employees who indicated being either "extremely satisfied" or "fairly satisfied" in their work.
% with Low Stress Levels: The percentage of Gen Y employees who indicated that their job is "not stressful" or "relaxing."
% That Feel Job Is Meaningful:
The percentage of Gen Y employees who indicated that they find their jobs either "very meaningful" or "meaningful."
% with a Flexible Schedule: The percentage of Gen Y employees who indicated that they are able to fully determine their own schedule and time off with, or without advanced notice.
Green Score: Based upon the
Newsweek green score ranking. Accounts for the environmental footprint; management policies, programs and initiatives; and reporting practices of companies.
Overall Score for Employers: Calculation based upon each company's results for Gen Y pay, percent Gen Y employees, job satisfaction, job stress, job meaning, schedule flexibility and green score.
Wage Change Over Time: Shows percent change in earnings for full-time, private-industry employees working in that metro area between Q2 2009 and Q2 2012.
Commute Time for Gen Y: Average commute time for Gen Y workers in a particular metro area.
Gen Y City Score: Calculation based upon each metro area’s results for wage change over time, Gen Y pay, commute time and percent of Gen Y employees.
% of Gen Y Employees with Degree: Percentage of full-time, professional Gen Y workers with a particular degree.
Common Majors (Gen Y Relative Ratio): Shows how much more common each major is for Gen Y versus all other bachelor's degree holders.
Common Certification (Gen Y Relative Ratio): Shows how much more common each certification is for Gen Y workers versus all other workers.
Common Jobs (Gen Y Relative Ratio): Shows how much more common each job is for Gen Y versus all other workers.
Best/Worst Paid Jobs for Gen Y: Of all jobs held by Gen Y workers, these jobs offer the highest and lowest median pay per year.
Common Skill (Gen Y Relative Ratio): Shows how much more common each job skill is for Gen Y workers versus all other workers.
% of Gen Y Workforce: Percent of total Gen Y employees working at small (<100 employees), medium (100 – 1,500 employees) and large-sized (1,500+ employees) companies.
